In December of 2006 the Nassau County Legislature approved the Living Wage Law, a law that changed the rules of the game for companies doing business with Nassau County. The living wage law ensures that the county is not subsidizing low-wage employers at the expense of workers who provide vital services to county residents. Workers on county contracts and subcontracts now must be paid a living wage of $11 or $9.50 an hour with health benefits and be entitled to a certain number of paid days off.

It is the intention of this law to help raise the income level of hard-working employees who struggle to get by and provide for their families, who have no health benefits and who ask nothing more than to raise themselves out of poverty.

My office is responsible for monitoring compliance by all contracting agencies and recipients of county funds, as well as providing covered employers and employees with the information and assistance necessary to ensure they receive a living wage. I have established a Living Wage Audit Unit, responsible for monitoring, investigating and auditing compliance by all contacting agencies. In addition, I have also established a 15-member Living Wage Advisory Board, chaired by John Durso, of the Retail, Wholesale Department Store Union Local 338, that will work in tandem with the audit team to ensure that Nassau County's Living Wage law is enforced and that all workers on county contracts and subcontracts be paid the mandated living wage.

The law applies to the following types of contracts and leases entered into by the county after January 1, 2007:

¥ Services contracts for $25,000 or more

¥ Financial Assistance contracts for more than $50,000 with an entity having at least 10 employees.

¥ Leases of property owned or controlled by the County

¥ Subcontractors of the covered contractors and lessees are also subject to the law.

Anyone wishing to file a complaint or report a violation of the Living Wage Law can contact the Living Wage Audit Unit at 516-571-3668 or visit our website at www.nassaucountyny.gov/comptroller/ and click on Living Wage for more information or to obtain a complaint form. Complaints will remain confidential.